Ybarra responds to voting lapse

Republican candidate for Idaho state schools chief Sherri Ybarra says she’s running for office to repay the state for not voting in a general election since 1996.

According to The Spokesman-Review, Ybarra told a debate panel Wednesday that it wasn’t news when her voting record released earlier this week revealed a failure to vote in 15 of the past 17 elections.

Democratic challenger Jana Jones fired back that she has always voted in state elections and that Idaho’s state superintendent should not only focus on academics but also civic engagement.

Ybarra’s lack of voting participation includes failing to cast a ballot on the state’s 2006 school funding tax shift and 2012 referendum to overturn the “Students Come First” reform laws.

The Idaho Falls City Club will host a debate between Ybarra and Jones on Oct. 23. If you want to attend, you need to RSVP by Monday at noon. For more information, click here.

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Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com